Mercy Gentleness

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قَبَّلَ النبيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الحسنَ بنَ عليٍّ رضي الله عنهما ، وعنده الأَقْرَعُ بنُ حَابِسٍ، فقال الأَقْرَعُ: إنَّ لي عَشَرَةً من الوَلَدِ ما قَبَّلْتُ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا، فَنَظَرَ إليهِ رسولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: «مَنْ لَا يَرْحَم لَا يُرْحَمُ!».

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) informed that the Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) kissed Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali while Al-Aqra‘ ibn Hābis At-Tamīmi was sitting with him. Al-Aqra‘ remarked: "I have ten children, and I have never kissed any of them." Thereupon, the Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) looked at him and said: "Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy." In another narration: "What can I do if Allah has removed mercy from your heart?" Meaning: If Allah, the Almighty, has taken the feeling of mercy away from your heart, can I ever bring it back?

دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين، لابن علان، نشر دار الكتاب العربي، بدون تاريخ. شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين، نشر: دار الوطن للنشر، الرياض، الطبعة: 1426هـ. بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، للهلالي، نشر: دار ابن الجوزي، الطبعة الأولى 1418هـ. صحيح البخاري، نشر: دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم ترقيم محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، الطبعة: الأولى 1422هـ. صحيح مسلم، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، نشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي - بيروت.

عن عائشة رضي الله عنها زوج النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «إِنَّ الرِّفْقَ لَا يَكُونُ فِي شَيْءٍ إِلَّا زَانَهُ، وَلَا يُنْزَعُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا شَانَهُ».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) points out that lenience, mildness, and deliberateness in speech and behavior add beauty and excellence to things, making it easier for a person to fulfill his needs. That lack of lenience makes things defective and unpleasant, which prevents a person from reaching his goal or reaching it with difficulty.

• The Hadīth urges us to be lenient.
• Lenience adorns people and leads to goodness in worldly and religious matters.

صحيح مسلم (4/ 2004) (2594). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 683). تطريز رياض الصالحين، لفيصل آل مبارك (ص414).

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ المُؤْمِنين رضي الله عنها زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنَّ اللهَ رَفِيقٌ يُحِبُّ الرِّفْقَ، وَيُعْطِي عَلَى الرِّفْقِ مَا لَا يُعْطِي عَلَى الْعُنْفِ، وَمَا لَا يُعْطِي عَلَى مَا سِوَاهُ».

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged the Mother of the Believers, ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), to be gentle, informing that Allah deals gently and kindly with His servants and wants ease for them, not hardship. He does not burden them beyond their capacity and loves that His servant adopts gentleness and ease in dealing with others, avoiding harshness or severity. He added that Allah Almighty grants for gentleness and kindness in this world a praiseworthy reputation, attainment of goals, and ease in pursuing one's affairs. And in the Hereafter, He grants a great reward, greater than what He gives for violence, harshness, or severity, because gentleness brings results that nothing else can bring.

• Encouraging gentleness and prohibiting violence.
• The high status of gentleness among the noble traits of character.
• The gentle person deserves beautiful praise and great reward from Allah Almighty.
• As-Sindi said: Harshness stands in opposition to gentleness. One who calls people to guidance with gentleness and kindness is better than one who calls with severity and harshness, as long as the situation responds equally to both approaches. But if the situation only responds to one of the two, then that which suits the situation becomes necessary. And Allah knows best the true reality of every situation.

صحيح مسلم (4/ 2003) (2593). بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، لسليم الهلالي (1/ 683). المنهاج شرح صحيح مسلم بن الحجاج، للنووي (16/ 145).